What is the root of dictate

Dictate belongs to a family of words connected with saying or speaking, through Latin forms related to dicere. The element dict appears in words such as dictate and dictation. Word history helps explain the connection, but each complete word has its own established meaning.

Meaning and context

To dictate can mean speaking words for someone or something to record. It can also mean determining or imposing what happens. Those senses share an association with directing or stating something, but they serve different purposes in a sentence.

Examples and usage

She dictated the letter describes spoken composition. The weather dictated our route means that conditions determined the choice. Dictation names an activity or text associated with recording spoken words. The surrounding sentence distinguishes these uses.

What to check

Do not assume that every word containing the letters dict can be decoded simply by replacing them with say. Borrowing, spelling changes, and established usage complicate word families. Check a dictionary entry for the particular word when its meaning is unfamiliar.

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